Tribesports - a new approach to run gear

Removing the middle man could be the future of affordable running apparel...

by Ben Hobson

What began as an online sports community, Tribesports are well on their way to producing their own performance sportswear range and they're doing it in a very unique way.

Using data collected from their online community and funding via a Kickstarter campaign, they plan to take on big sports brands at their own game, developing premium quality sportswear at up to 40% cheaper than leading sports brands.

Working with their community, customers and kickstarter backers they want to design, spec and gather the training data that tells them what kit runners really need, color choices, technical features and everything inbetween.

An initial target of £30,000 was set so that if reached, they would have enough funding to move the very first Tribesports performance wear range from final prototype stage into production, but this target was smashed in less than 40 hours and the current amount raised is over £94,000.

Talking about the aims of this venture, President and co-founder of Tribesports, Jenna Anians explains, "We recently carried out a survey and found that 81% of our users felt that they looked to their peers rather than famous athletes when it came to being influenced by the clothes they wear. Our members are most interested in the technical features of a product: what it is made from and how it is made, before making a buying decision – and this is something we see as integral to the Tribesports sportswear range going forward.”

"We’re going to be totally transparent with our manufacturing process – we have nothing to hide. On the site we’ll break down the costs of a garment, so you can see exactly where your money is going. We’re really focusing on the journey with our clothing, and will keep our community and customers involved with the creation and marketing of the range at every stage.”

Runner's World is a publication of Hearst Magazines UK which is the trading name of The National Magazine Company Ltd, 72 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9EP. Registered in England 112955. All rights reserved. Runner's World, Part of the Hearst UK wellbeing network